Posterior compartment of leg

Muscles, arteries and nerves of posterior compartment of leg

1. Dr. Aunum Iqbal

2. The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint

3. The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint
There is a Superficial Posterior Compartment and a
Deep Posterior Compartment

4. The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint
There are 3 muscles in the Superficial Compartment

5. There are 3 muscles in the Superficial Compartment
•Gastrocnemius
•Plantaris
•Soleus
The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint

6. There are 4 muscles in the Deep Compartment
•Popliteus
•Flexor Digitorum Longus
•Flexor Hallucis Longus
•Tibialis Posterior
The posterior compartment of the leg contains flexor
muscles that plantarflex the ankle joint

7. Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
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M
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8. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
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L
M
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D
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9. Septum
Septum
Interosseous
membrane
Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
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M
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D
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10. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
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E
R
A
L
M
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D
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L
Anterior Compartment

11. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
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E
R
A
L
M
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D
I
A
L
Anterior Compartment
Lateral
Compartment

12. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Anterior Compartment
Lateral
Compartment

13. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Anterior Compartment
Lateral
Compartment
Deep Posterior
Compartment

14. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Superficial Posterior
Compartment
Deep Posterior
Compartment
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment

15. Muscles of the
Superficial Posterior
Compartment

16. Gastrocnemius
GastrocnemiusArises as two heads from the posterior
surface of the
Medial and Lateral Femoral Condyles
Posterior view, right leg

17. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial HeadMedial Head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
Deep Posterior
Compartment

18. Soleus
Originates from the
•posterior aspect of the fibular head
•Fibular shaft
•Tibial shaft

19. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
Deep Posterior
Compartment

20. Soleus and Gastrocnemius
merge to form the Achilles tendon
This tendon inserts onto the posterior
and superior surfaces of the Calcaneum

21. Plantaris
This slender muscle arises from the
Lateral Supracondylar ridge of the Femur
and inserts onto the Calcaneum just
medial to the Achilles Tendon

22. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Deep Posterior
Compartment
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris

23. Muscles of the
Deep Posterior Compartment

24. Popliteus
Originates from the posterior aspect of
the upper Tibia

25. Popliteus
Inserts onto the posterior aspect of the upper Tibia

Originates from groove on the lateral surface of
lateral condyle of Femur

26. Popliteus
This muscle contributes to the function of the
knee joint by unlocking the extended leg and
rotating the Femur on the Tibia
Originates from the posterior aspect of
the upper Tibia
Inserts onto lateral surface of lateral condyle of Femur

27. Tibialis Posterior
Originates from the posterior aspects of
the
•Interosseous membrane
•Fibular shaft
•Tibial shaft

28. Tibialis Posterior
Inserts onto the Navicular, and sends extensions
to other tarsal bones and metatarsals
Originates from the posterior aspects of
the
•interosseous membrane
•fibular shaft
•tibial shaft

29. Tibialis Posterior
This is the principal invertor of the foot
Inserts onto the navicular, and sends extensions
to other tarsal bones and metatarsals
Originates from the posterior aspects of
the
•interosseous membrane
•fibular shaft
•tibial shaft

30. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior

31. Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Tibial shaft
Flexor Digitorum Longus

32. Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Tibial shaft
Flexor Digitorum Longus
Splits into 4 tendons which insert onto
the distal phalanges of toes 2-5

33. Originates from the posterior aspect of the
tibial shaft
Flexor Digitorum Longus
Flexes the toes
Splits into 4 tendons which insert onto
the distal phalanges of toes 2-5

34. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior
Flexor Digitorum Flexor Digitorum
LongusLongus

35. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Fibular shaft and Interosseous Membrane

36. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Fibular shaft and Interosseous Membrane
Inserts onto the distal phalanx of the big toe

37. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Originates from the posterior aspect of the
Fibular shaft and Interosseous Membrane
Inserts onto the distal phalanx of the big toe
Flexes the big toe

38. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior
Flexor Digitorum Flexor Digitorum
LongusLongus
Flexor Hallucis LongusFlexor Hallucis Longus

39. Summary of Muscles

40. Gastrocnemius
Origin Medial head: posterior surface of
medial femoral condyle
Lateral head: posterior surface of
lateral femoral condyle
Insertion The two heads unite and with
soleus form the Achilles tendon,
which inserts onto the posterior
and upper surface of calcaneum
Action Powerful plantar flexor of ankle
Nerve SupplyTibial nerve ( S1, S2)
Blood SupplySural branches of the popliteal
artery
Posterior Leg

41. Soleus
Origin Posterior aspect of fibular head,
posterior surface of upper fibular
shaft, soleal line on posterior
tibia and medial border of tibia
Insertion unites with gastrocnemius
aponeurosis to form the Achilles
tendon, inserts onto posterior
and upper surfaces of calcaneum
Action Plantar flexor of ankle
Nerve SupplyTibial nerve (S1, S2)
Blood SupplyPosterior tibial, peroneal, and
sural arteries
Posterior Leg

42. Plantaris
Origin Inferior aspect of lateral
supracondylar ridge of distal
femur
Insertion Posterior calcaneal surface,
medial to Achilles tendon
Action Plantar flexor of ankle; also flexes
knee
Nerve SupplyTibial nerve (L5, S1, S2)
Blood SupplySural arteries
Posterior Leg

43. Popliteus
Origin Lateral surface of lateral condyle
of femur.
Insertion Posterior surface of tibia,
superior to soleal line
The tendon passes into the
capsule of the knee and gives an
extension to posterior part of
lateral meniscus
Action Unlocks the extended knee by
laterally rotating the femur on
the tibia.
Nerve SupplyTibial nerve (L4, L5, S1)
Blood SupplyMedial inferior genicular branch
of popliteal artery, posterior
tibial artery
Posterior Leg

44. Tibialis Posterior
Origin Posterior aspect interosseous
membrane, superior half of tibia
and medial posterior surface of
fibula
Insertion Inserts onto navicular tuberosity
and sends extensions to other
tarsal bones and metatarsals
Action Inverts, adducts, supinates foot,
plantar flexes ankle
Nerve SupplyTibial nerve (L4, L5)
Blood Supplysural, peroneal and posterior
tibial arteries
Posterior Leg

45. Flexor Digitorum Longus
Origin Posterior surface of tibia distal to
soleal line
Insertion Splits into four slips, inserts onto
plantar surface of bases of distal
phalanges of 2
nd
-5
th
toes
Action Flexes toes 2 - 5; also helps in
plantar flexion of ankle
Nerve SupplyTibial nerve (S1, S2)
Blood SupplyMuscular branches of posterior
tibial artery
Posterior Leg

46. Flexor Hallucis Longus
Origin Inferior 2/3 of posterior surface
of fibula, lower part of
interosseous membrane
Insertion Plantar surface of base of distal
phalanx of great toe
Action Flexes great toe, supinates ankle,
weak ankle plantar flexor
Nerve SupplyTibial nerve (S2, S3)
Blood SupplyMuscular branches of peroneal
and posterior tibial artery
Posterior Leg

48. All the muscles of the
posterior compartment of leg
are supplied by the
Tibial Nerve
a terminal branch of the Sciatic Nerve

49. Tibia
Fibula
Cross Section through middle of right leg looking up from foot
anterioranterior
posteriorposterior
L
A
T
E
R
A
L
M
E
D
I
A
L
Lateral
Compartment
Anterior Compartment
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Medial headMedial head
GastrocnemiusGastrocnemius
Lateral headLateral head
SoleusSoleus
PlantarisPlantaris
Tibialis PosteriorTibialis Posterior
Flexor Digitorum Flexor Digitorum
LongusLongus
Flexor Hallucis LongusFlexor Hallucis Longus
Tibial Nerve

50. Tibial Nerve
*FDL= Flexor digitorum longus
FHL= Flexor hallucis longus

53. POPLITEAL ARTERY
Continuation of the Femoral artery
At the lower border of the Popliteus, divides into:
Anterior tibial artery
Posterior tibial artery
Branches :
Articular / Genicular branches - Knee joint
Muscular branches - Hamstrings, Gastrocnemius,
Soleus, Plantaris
Cutaneous branches

54. Anterior Tibial Artery
It passes anteriorly, between
Tibia and Fibula, through gap
in the interosseous
membrane. It then runs
down the entire length of the
leg, and into the foot, where
it becomes the dorsalis pedis
artery.

55. Posterior Tibial Artery
It continues inferiorly, along the
surface of the deep muscles of leg.
It accompanies Tibial nerve in
entering the sole of the foot via the
tarsal tunnel. Here it divides into
Medial and Lateral plantar arteries.
It gives off a branch; the Fibular
artery in leg. This artery moves
laterally, penetrating the lateral
compartment of the leg. It supplies
muscles in the lateral and posterior
compartments.
Medial
Plantar
artery
Lateral
Plantar
artery

56. Posterior Tibial Artery